Traffic marker



R- FOSTER '.TRAFFIC MARKER Filed Jan. 12', 192s @J mm y Patented Feb.18, 1930 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT FOSTER, QDRK, Y., ASSIGNORTO METAL TRAFFIC MARKER GOR- POBATION, A. CORPORATION F NEW YORK TRAFFICMARKER Application med January 12, 1928. Serial N0. 246,151.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements in trafficmarkers and the like, that is, improvements in means attachable to astreet, pavement, or other surface, to guide or impart instructions totraffic, to define area limits, and for such other uses as the devicesare adapted.

Heretofore, a marker has been developed which comprises a head portion,either made of or covered with a sheathing of material which possesses apermanently relatively bright, or light-reflecting surface, incombination with means carried integrally by said head and operativewhen driven into a given surface to secure the device to such surface.

However, since the attaching means generally has heretofore beenintegral with the head portion, the device was not adaptable to the samedegree of eliiciency for application to pavements constructed withvarying thicknesses of asphalt or other material upon a stone; concrete,or similar relatively solid unyielding base.

Therefore, another object has been to pro-l vide a device of thischaracter in which the attaching means is detachable from the headportion of the device, and is interchangeable with other attaching meansof different lengths, for the penetration of corresponding differentthicknesses of asphalt and the like, and for resting directly upon thestone, concrete, or similar foundation which is substantially unaectedby temperature changes.

As a result of the foregoing facts, and having in mind that theattaching means of the present device is designed to extend through andthus secure the head portion to a given surface, the exposed surface ofthe attaching means aswell as that of the head portion has been coveredwith a material possessing a relatively high light-reliectingcharacteristic, in the'event that the attaching means itself is notformed entirely of such material.

And a still further Objectis to provide in a device of this characterthe combination of a head portion having an aperture, with an attachingmember comprising a head of larger dimension than that of saidaperture.1 and having a substantially oblong bifurcated shankcharacterized by the fact that it is particularly well adapted for useupon and bef of construction and operationwhich are fully i brought outin the following description, when readin conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical diametrical sectionthrough one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar sec tlonthrough a modification thereof; Fig. 3 1s a horlzontal section on theline 8--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of theattaching means shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a modified form of attachingmeans; Fig. 6 1s an elevational view of the attaching means shown inFig. 2 Fig. 7 is a modification of the same; Fig. 8 is a verticaldiametrical section through the device illustrated in Fig. 1 as appliedto a given surface such as an asphalt pavement resting upon a concretefoundation; and Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8,

ybut showing the use of various lengths of attaching means designed toencounter and rest directly upon the concrete foundation after havingpierced the asphalt or similar type of relatively yielding surfacelayer.

In Figs. 1 and 3, the present invention is shown as comprising a markerwhich consists of a circular head 10, of any suitable material such aswrought or annealed cast iron, having a preferably convex upper surface10 and through which extends an axially positioned aperture 11, upwardlyopening into a radially enlarged groove 12. As this type of marker isadapted to be affixed to road surfaces and the'like which comprisesurface layers of asphalt or different material of varying thicknesses,when an order is laced with the manufacturer for a marker aving anattaching means with a particular length of depending shank portion, anattaching mem er of the proper length is inserted, so that its bodyportion 13 extends through the aperture 11, its radially enlarged head14 rests within the groove 12, and its steel and the like, so-that theupper or exposed surface of the marker when applied to the particular4surface maintains a relative- 1y high light-reiiecting characteristic.In

`this instance, a single plate 16 of -metal sheathing is employed tocover both the marker proper and the head of said attaching means, themarginal portion 17 of said sheathing being turned radially inwardly orreversely under the corresponding marginal Y edge portion of the head10.

With this'construction, while the device can be driven directly into thesurface material of a street, pavement, or the like, it has been foundparticularly advantageous to first drill in such surface material 18 ahole 19 sufficiently large to accommodate the body or shank portion 13of the attaching member. This hole or bore may extend any desired depth,but in Fig. 8 is shown'as extending iust to the upper surface of theconcrete or similar foundation 20. The hole being completed, a block ofwood or other relatively semi-yielding material 21 is inserted into thebottom of said hole 19 and the marker of Fig. 1 placed over the hole sothat the bifurcated rtion 15 extends thereinto and rests upon the blockor plug21. Then upon striking the upper portion of the device as a unitand preferably in direct alignment with the axis of said attachingmeans, the latter is forced downwardly, the head 10 approaches theasphalt surface and the prongs 15 comprising the lower bifurcated endportion of the attaching means are deflected laterally outwardly by saidblock and are thus caused to penetrate the surface material 18 in suchmanner as to firmly anchor the device thereto, and with the under sideof the head 10 in intimate contact therewith.

In Fig. 4, there is shown an attaching member comprising the circularhead 14 above described, but the shank 22 of which as it progressesdownwardly becomes polygonal in cross section until it terminates in aplurality of tapered prongs 23 combining to form a downwardly extendingbifurcated end portion.

In Fig..5 is shown another form of attaching means in which the head 14is rectangular and of similar shape and correspondingly proportioned tothe depending shank 22 and depending prongs 23.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown a head 24 through which extendsa centrally positioned bore 25, merging upwardly into a radiallyenlarged groove 26, while through said bore extends a shank portion 27of another form of attaching means, which comprises a radially enlargedhead 28, normally positioned within the groove 26, and having adownwardly extending radially expansible pair of tapered prongscomprising a bifurcated end portion 29, the outer surfaces of saidprongs comprising suitably shaped corrugations 30, as shown in Fig. 6.

As in the case of the marker hereinbefore described, it is alsopreferable in this instance to cover the exposed convex surface 24 ofthe head 24 and the head 28 of the attaching member 27 with relativelyhighly light-reflective material. In this instance, a plate of suchmaterial 31 is formed upon and in uniform intimate contact with thesurface 24 and radially outer edge portion 32 reversely folded about thecorresponding marginal edge portion of the head 24, while the centralportion of said plate is provided with an aperture 33 in alignment withthe aperture 25 in the head and that portion of said plate adjacent toits said aperture being pressed downwardly into the groove 26. Also aplate 34 of similar light reflective material is placed upon the head 28of the attaching means and its marginal portion 35 folded about thecorresponding portion of said lastnamed head.

With this construction it will be noted that the head is independent ofthe attaching means and may be made up in quantities, so that uponreceiving an order, the factory can supply the required number of markerheads with any specified length or lengths of attaching means separatetherefrom. Incidentally, this unassembled marker lends itself toshipment in large quantities, and makes it possible to manufacture itstwo principal pieces from drop forgings. To assemble the parts at thepoint 0f attachment to the given road surface or the like, the attachingmeans is inserted through the aperture 25 in the head as shown in Fig.2, and when driven either directly into said surface or into apreviously prepared hole, such as before described, the corrugatedsurfaces of the prongs 30 will serve to prevent the accidental looseningor removal of the marker from said surface, and the upper .exposedsurface of the plate 34 will comprise a substantially unbrokencontinuation of the surrounding surface of the plate 31;

Whilethe attaching means shown in Fig. 6, and hereinbefore described,has been found highly satisfactory under certain conditions, a modifiedform such as shown in Fig. 7 may be employed and this consists primarilyin a circular shank 36 terminating upwardly in an enlarged head 37 anddownwardly in a tapering surface provided with threads 38 of unusuallyhigh pitch such as are par" ticularly adapted for use for drill screws.In this case, there is no bifurcation and consequently no prongs ordeflection of any portion of theattachin means, but the latter de endsupon its spiral threads to prevent it iiom permitting the head 24 of themarker from becoming accidentally loosened or separated from the road orother surface.

Also, it is to be understood that the attaching means shown in Figs. 6and 7 can be employed with the plate 10 and covered by the same late oflight reflective material 16 as that w ich covers said plate, andvlikewise the head 24 shown in Fig. 2 and provided with a covering plate31 can be associated with attaching means of the type shown in Figs. 4and 5, either with or without the covering plate 34.

Referring to Fig.- 9, there is shown the method of a plying any of themarkervstructures herein efore described to the asphalt or similarsurface 18 resting upon lthe concrete or similar foundation 20. The bore19 preferably previously prepared may, but need not, contain a delectingor spreader plug 21. Instead, the hole 19 may be drilled only to thedepth indicated at 39 and the material beneath said hole comprising themeans or obstruction whereby the prongs 15 are flexed laterallyoutwardly. However,

Fig 9 further illustrates the highly desirable condition in which theattaching means supplied with the marker is of a definite predeterminedlength such as most efficiently corresponds with the local conditionrelating to the thickness of surface material 1,8, so that when drivenits full length into said surface, the lower ends of the prongs 15 restdirectly upon the foundation material 20. With this condition obtaining,and the same plate of sheathing material 16 extending over both theplate 10 and the head 14 of the attaching means, the latter serves tosupport the head in such manner as -to prevent the constant passage oftratlic thereover, forcing the head downwardly into, and eventuallycovering the same by, the material of the surface 18.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A marker, comprising a headhaving an aperture, a bifurcated member insertable through said apertureand its bifurcated portion being adapted to spread in cooperation withthe material of a given surface to secure said head thereto, andsheathing characterized by a permanent relatively high degree of lightreflectivity covering said head and the otherwise exposed portion ofsaid attaching means, the marginal portion of said sheathing beingturned reversely beneath the edge portion of said head to secure saidsheathing thereto.

2. A marker, comprising a head having an aperture, a bifurcated memberinsertable through said aperture and its bifurcated portion beingadapted to spread in cooperation lar groove, a bifurcated attachingmember insertable through said aperture and having a radially largerhead normally positioned in said groove and substantially lush'with theexposed surface of said head element, and sheathing characterized by apermanent relatively high degree of light reflectivity covering saidhead element and the otherwise exposed portion of said attaching meanssaid sheathlng being secured to said head by being reversely turnedatits periphery beneath the marginal portion of'sald head.

4, A marker, comprising a head element having an aperture surrounded byan annular groove, a bifu rcated attaching member insertable throughsaid aperture and having a radially larger head normally positioned insaid groove and substantially flush with the exposed surface of saidhead element, and

lates having a permanent relatively high egree of light reflectivitysheathing said h ead element and the otherwise exposed por tion of thehead of said attaching member. k 5. A marker, comprising a head elementhaving an aperture surrounded by an annular groove, a bifurcatedattaching member insertable through4 said aperture and having a radiallylarger head normally positioned in said groove and substantially flushwith the exposed surface of said head element, and plates having apermanent relatively high degree of light reflectivity sheathing saidhead element and the otherwise exposed portion of the head of saidattaching member, the margin of the plate covering said attachingmemlloer being turned reversely under the periphery of its head, and theplate covering said head element having an aperture, the edge portionsurrounding which lies in said groove and is secured in place by saidattaching member.

- 6. A marker, comprising a head element having an aperture surroundedby an annular groove, a bifurcated attaching member insertable throughsaid aperture and having a radially larger head normally positioned insaid groove and substantially flush with the exposed surface of saidhead element, and plates having a permanent relatively high degree oflight reectivity sheathing said head element and the otherwise exposedorino' member, the upper exposed surfaces of said head element andattaching member being flush and comprising substantial continuations ofeach other. V

7. A marker, comprising a head element having an aperture surrounded byan annular groove, with attachin means extending through said apertureand aving a head normally positioned in said groove, and having arectangular bifurcated free end portion, the opposite portions of whichare adapted to spread apart upon entering a given surface, and asheathing plate of a permanent relatively high degree of lightreflectivity covering said head and secured thereto by having itsmarginal portion reversely turned beneath the adjacent portion of saidhead.

8. In combination With a relatively solid foundation and a superimposedrelatively penetrable layer thereupon, a marker, coinprising a headelement adapted to rest upon said layer and having an aperture, anattaching means normal-ly extending through said aperture and of theproper length when forced through said layer to rest upon saidfoundation, said element and said attaching means being covered Withseparate plates of relatively high reflectivity covering their exposedsurfaces.

9. In combination with a relatively solid foundation and a superimposedrelatively penetrable layer thereupon, a marker, comprising a headelement adapted to rest upon said layer and having an aperture, anattaching means normally extending through said aperture and of theproper length when forced through said layer to rest upon saidfoundation, said element and said attaching means being covered withseparate plates of relatively high reflectivity covering their exposedsurfaces, the outer periphery of the plate on said head element beinginturned about the edge portion of said element, and the edge'portion ofsaid element plate adjacent to said aperture being normally securedbeneath the upper portion of said means, and the plate upon said meansbeing inturned about its upper portion.

In testimony whereof I have alixed my signature.

ROBERT FOSTER.

